Suicide cases on the rise in delta districts this year

With two more farmers taking their lives, the number of farm suicides has gone up to 10 in the delta districts due to wilting crops this year.

The latest suicides were reported from Kadambakudi near Kudavasal in Tiruvarur district and Karakathikottai near Manamelkudi in Pudukottai district. While Sakthivel consumed poison on Friday night and died in a hospital in Kumbakonam, Rengasamy (54) from Karakathikottai was missing since Friday morning. His family members searched for him throughout the day. His body was found near a canal in the village on Saturday. Kottaipattinam police retrieved the body and sent it to the government hospital at Aranthangi for autopsy.

Police said initial investigations revealed that he had planted paddy on three acres. Due to lack of water, the crop began to wither. Dejected, he killed himself by consuming pesticide. A case was registered by the police.

While Pudukottai has recorded its first suicide, this is the third case in Tiruvarur district. Three farmers committed suicide in Nagapattinam district, which is the tail end of the delta area.

In Tiruvarur district, Sridhar from Abisekapuram village, near Koradacherry and Abdul Raheem, of Andankarai village, near Tiruthuraipoondi committed suicide. Three farmers in Nagapattinam district -- Rajangam, of Koorathangudi near Kilvelur, Samiyappan of Nagoore, near Narimanam and Selvaraj, of Mahila village, in the Kilaviyur block have committed suicide. Farmers associations feared that the number would go up further as the crisis worsens.